Device for carrying a stack of trays

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for supporting and transporting at least one object which has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. The device comprises a handle, and a plurality of legs connected to the handle. At least a portion of the legs are configured to be inserted into at least one of the plurality of apertures. The device further comprises a plurality of support members attached to the portion of the plurality of legs and sized to fit within the apertures in object. Each of the support members have a support edge and are movable to an extended position wherein the support edges collectively define a surface supporting the at least one object. The device facilitates carrying of the objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a carrying device. More particularly, theinvention relates to a device for carrying a plurality of trays that arearranged in a stack.

2. Description of the Related Art

Thin small outline package trays, or TSOP trays, are devices that areused to carry a plurality of computer chips or other small objects. Thetrays define a planar surface on which a plurality of these smallobjects are positioned for transport or storage. The trays should belarge enough to carry a high number of the computer chips, which aretypically organized in rows and columns on the tray surface. Duringstorage or movement, the trays are typically stacked atop one another toconserve space. Unfortunately, as the number of trays in the stackincreases, the stack becomes increasingly difficult to carry or move.

TSOP trays are often used to feed computer chips into a chip handler orsorter, which is a device that is used to test the chips and sort themaccording to the quality of the chips. Typically, a user lowers a stackof the trays into a bin attached to the chip handler. The chips are thenremoved from the trays, tested for quality, and then sorted by the chiphandler and returned to the trays.

Unfortunately, the size of the stack makes it difficult and awkward forthe user to lower the stack of trays into the bin of the chip handler.This is particularly true since the bottom of the bin is often deep.Additionally, as the size of the stack increases, the likelihood of aperson dropping the stack also increases, which often leads to lost anddamaged parts as well as jammed handlers. While the size of the stack oftrays may be reduced by lowering the number of trays in the stack, thiswould reduce efficiency.

The bulkiness of the trays also increases the likelihood that the trayswill be dropped or mishandled during transport. A significant amount oftime is often wasted picking up trays and parts that have been scatteredafter an unfortunate fall.

There is, therefore, a need for a device for carrying a plurality ofTSOP trays that are arranged in a stack. The device should provide auser with an easy means of carrying and transporting the stack of traysand should be easily operated an manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the invention which relates toa device for carrying a stack of TSOP trays.

In one aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a device forsupporting and transporting at least one object which has a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough. The device comprises a handle, and aplurality of legs connected to the handle. At least a portion of thelegs are configured to be inserted into at least one of the plurality ofapertures. The device further comprises a plurality of support membersattached to the portion of the plurality of legs and sized to fit withinthe apertures in object. Each of the support members have a support edgeand are movable to an extended position wherein the support edgescollectively define a surface supporting the at least one object. Thedevice facilitates carrying of the objects.

In another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a device forcarrying and transporting at least one object which has a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough. The device comprises a handle and anouter housing having a handle section and a plurality of legs connectedthereto. Each of the plurality of legs includes an aperture extendingthrough a portion thereof. The device further comprises an inner framecoupled to the outer housing, the inner frame having a handle sectionpositioned adjacent the handle section of the outer housing and aplurality of legs slidably positioned within the plurality of legs ofthe outer housing, and a plurality of support members attached to aportion of the plurality of legs of the inner frame. Each of theplurality of support members includes a support edge. The plurality ofsupport members are movable to an extended position wherein the supportmembers extend outward through the apertures in the legs of the outerframe so that the support edges of the support members cooperate tosupport the at least one object. The support members move to theextended position when the handle section of the inner frame is movedtoward the handle section of the outer housing.

In another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a system forcarrying objects. The system comprises at least one object and acarrying device comprising a handle, at least one leg connected to thehandle, and a first support member connected to the leg. The firstsupport member has a support edge sized to support at least a portion ofthe at least one object.

In yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a device forcarrying at least one object having a plurality of apertures extendingtherethrough. The device comprises a handle, a plurality of hollow legsconnected to the handle, the plurality of legs each having a heightgreater than the height of the at least one object and a plurality ofsupport members coupled to the plurality of hollow legs and movable intoan extended position. The support members collectively define a supportsurface for supporting the at least one object thereon. The device alsoincludes means for moving the support members to the extended position.

In yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a device forsupporting and transporting at least one object which has a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough. The device comprises a handle, aplurality of legs connected to the handle, wherein at least a portion ofthe legs are configured to be inserted into at least one of theplurality of apertures, and means for supporting the at least one objectwhen the legs are inserted into the apertures.

In yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method ofmoving a stack of trays. The method comprises stacking a plurality oftrays atop one another to form a stack of trays, wherein each of thetrays has a plurality of apertures therein and wherein the step ofstacking includes aligning apertures in adjacent trays with each other,inserting each of a plurality of legs of a tray carrier into acorresponding one of the plurality of apertures in the stack of trays,locking the tray carrier to the stack of trays, and lifting the traycarrier so that the tray carrier supports the stack of trays.

In another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method oftransporting a stack of trays. The method comprises forming a stack oftrays such that a bottommost tray supports the other trays in the stackof trays, coupling a plurality of legs of a tray carrier to the stack oftrays so that a plurality of support members on the legs provide asupport surface for the bottommost tray in the stack of trays, andlifting the tray carrier so that the support surface supports the stackof trays.

In yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method ofcarrying at least one tray. The method comprises inserting a leg of atray carrier through an aperture in the at least one tray so that abottom end of the leg protrudes through the bottom of the at least onetray, extending a support member outward from the bottom end of the atleast one tray so that the support member provides a support surface forthe tray, and lifting the tray carrier so that the at least one trayrests on the support surface of the support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will now be described withreference to the drawings of one embodiment, which are intended toillustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray carrier of the invention and astack of TSOP trays;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outer member of the tray carrier ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inner member of the tray carrier ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a first side view of a pair of support members attached to aportion of a leg of the inner member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a second side view of a pair of support members attached to aportion of a leg of the inner member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the tray carrier of the invention in anon-support position;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the tray carrier of the invention in asupport position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a handle section of the traycarrier of the invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C are side views illustrating the support members of the traycarrier of the invention at several stages during their movement from alocked position to an unlocked position; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of a bottom portion of the tray carrier shownsupporting a stack of TSOP trays.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray carrier 30 of the invention and astack 32 of Thin Small Outline Package ("TSOP") trays 34. The traycarrier 30 is configured to mate with the stack 32 of TSOP trays 34 andfunction as a convenient and easy means of carrying the stack 32, asdescribed more fully below. Although described herein with respect to astack of TSOP trays 34, it will be appreciated that the tray carrier 30may also be used to carry any of a wide variety of tray-type devices.

With reference to FIG. 1, each TSOP tray 34 is substantially flat anddefines a flat support surface 36 thereon for supporting a plurality ofcomputer chips or other small devices. In the illustrated embodiment,each tray 34 is rectangular-shaped and includes a plurality of holes 38that extend therethrough. The holes are referred to collectively usingthe numeral 38 and individually using the suffix "a", "b", "c", or "d".The holes 38 are located adjacent each of the four corners of each TSOPtray 34. Each tray 34 is identical in shape and has dimensions such thatthe holes 38 of the trays 34 are aligned with one another when the trays34 are stacked atop one another. The TSOP trays may take on any of awide variety of shapes that are configured to be stacked atop oneanother.

With reference to FIG. 1, the tray carrier 30 includes a handle section40 that is adapted to be gripped by a user. The tray carrier 30 furtherincludes a leg section 42 comprising four parallel legs 44a, 44b, 44c,and 44d which extend downwardly from the handle section 40. The legs 44are referred to collectively using the reference numeral 44, and arereferred to individually using the suffix a, b, c or d. The legs 44 aresized and spaced from one another to fit within the holes 38 in the TSOPtrays 34. That is, the legs 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d of the tray carrier30 are sized and dimensioned to be simultaneously slid into the holes38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d, respectively, of the trays 34, as described morefully below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tray carrier 30 comprises an outer housing ormember 50 and an inner frame or member 52 that is slidably mountedwithin the outer member 50. The inner member 52 is configured toslidably move relative to the outer member 50 to operate the traycarrier 30, as described in more detail below. FIG. 2 is a perspectiveview of the outer member 50 of the tray carrier 30. The outer member 50comprises a handle section 58 and a plurality of tubular legs 60a, 60b,60c, and 60d extending downwardly therefrom. The legs 60 of the outermember 50 are referred to collectively using the reference numeral 60.The handle section 58 includes an elongated handle 62 having a first end64 and a second end 66. A pair of extenders 68a and 68b extend outwardlyin substantially opposite directions and their outer ends extenddownwardly at an angle from the first end 64 of the handle 62.Similarly, a pair of extenders 70a and 70b extend outwardly insubstantially opposite directions and their outer ends extend downwardlyat an angle from the second end 66 of the handle 62.

With reference to FIG. 2, the legs 60a and 60b of the outer member 50extend downwardly from the ends of the extenders 68a and 68b,respectively. Likewise, the legs 60c and 60d extend downwardly from theends of the extenders 70a and 70b, respectively. The tubular legs 60 ofthe outer member 50 are hollow so as to define an elongated cavitywithin each of the legs 60. The legs 60a-60d each have a lower portion74a-74d, respectively. A pair of apertures 76a and 76b are positioned indiametrically opposed locations on the lower portion 74a-74d of each ofthe legs 60a-60d, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inner member 52 includes a handle section 80 anda plurality of rods or legs 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d, (collectivelyreferred to as legs 82) extending downwardly from the handle section 80.The handle section 80 comprises an elongated handle 84 that includes apair of downward bends 79 and 83 positioned at selected locations alongits length. A first end 81 and a second end 85 of the handle 84 connectto a pair of straight, elongated handle extenders 94 and 96. Theelongated handle extenders 94 and 96 are oriented to extendsubstantially normal with respect to the handle 84, and they connect thehandle section 80 of the inner member 52 to the legs 82 of the innermember 52. The handle extender 94 has a length substantially equal tothe distance between the legs 60a and 60b of the outer member 50.Likewise, the handle extender 96 has a length substantially equal to thedistance between the legs 60c and 60d of the outer member 50. It will beappreciated that the handle section 80 could have a variety of shapessuch that each of the legs 82 of the inner member 52 are positioned tobe inserted simultaneously into each of the legs 60 of the outer member50.

With reference to FIG. 3, the legs 82 are straight and parallel to oneanother. Additionally, the legs 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d each have a lowerportion 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d, respectively, which are referred tocollectively using the reference numeral 102. A pair of flat latches orsupport members 110 are movably mounted at the end of the lower portions102 of each of the legs 82, as described in more detail below. The legs82 of the inner member 52 are sized to be slidably inserted into theelongated cavities within the hollow legs 60 of the outer member 50.

The configuration of the support members 110 on the lower portions canbest be understood by reference to FIG. 4. Referring to that figure, itis noted that each of the legs 82 are identical to one another. Thus,the following description of the lower portion 102a is equallyapplicable to the portions 102b-102d. An extender arm 104 is attached tothe bottom end of the portion 102a and is oriented substantially normalto the leg 82a. The extender arm 104 has a length that is smaller thanan internal diameter of the legs 60 of the outer member 50 to allow thelower portion 102a of the inner member 52 to be inserted into the leg60a of the outer member 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support members 110 are rotatably mounted to theends of the extender arm 104 via a pair rotational connectors, such as apair of pins 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the support members 110are triangular-shaped so as to define a substantially straight supportedge 112 and a first side edge 114 that extends substantially normal tothe support edge 112. The support member 110 also defines a second sideedge 116 that extends at an angle relative to the support edge 112. Itwill be appreciated that the shape of the support members 110 may varywhile still being able to accomplish the purpose of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 4, a biasing member or elastic band 120 (shownschematically) is coupled to each of the support members 110 atlocations where the support members 110 attach to the extender arm 104.The elastic band 120 is mounted under tension to exert a bias betweenthe support members 110 such that the support members 110 are urged torotate about the pins 108 to an extended or unlocked position, as shownin FIG. 4. The pins 108 desirably includes an internal latch or stopthat prevents the support members 110 from rotating past the extendedposition. Alternatively, the extender arm 104 could be shaped to preventthe support members 110 from rotating past the extended position. In theextended position, the support edges 112 of the two support members 110are aligned within a common plane.

A force may be applied to the support members 110 in the direction ofthe arrows 111 to move the support members 110 to a retracted or lockedposition wherein the support edges 112 of the support members 110 arepushed toward the legs 82, as shown in FIG. 5. In the retractedposition, the support edges 112 of the support members 110 are orientedat an angle relative to one another. The elastic band 120 causes thesupport members 110 to automatically spring to the extended position(FIG. 4) when the support members 110 are unrestrained.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the tray carrier 30 is assembled, the innermember 52 is mounted within the outer member 50. Specifically, the legs82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d of the inner member 52 are slidably positionedwithin the legs 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d of the outer member 50,respectively. When assembled, the handle section 80 of the inner member52 is also positioned below the handle section 58 of the outer member 50such that the handle 84 of the inner member 52 is aligned parallel toand immediately below the handle 62 of the outer member 50. As shown inFIG. 6A, the tray carrier 30 is normally in a default or "non-support"position, wherein the handle 84 of the inner member 52 is positioned ashort distance d below the handle 62 of the outer member 50. As shown inphantom, the legs 82 of the inner member 52 are fully inserted into thelegs 60 of the outer member 50 so that the support members 110 areconstrained in the retracted position, as was described above withrespect to FIG. 5. Desirably, the distance d is less than approximatelythree inches.

The tray carrier 30 may be moved from the non-support position to a"support" position by moving the handle 84 of the inner member 52 towardthe handle 62 of the outer member 50. Desirably, the handle 84 of theinner member 52 is moved toward the handle 62 of the outer member 50until the handle 84 abuts the handle 62. The legs 82 of the inner member52 slide upwardly with respect to the legs 60 of the outer member 50during this movement.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the tray carrier 30 in the supportposition wherein the handle 84 of the inner member 52 has been slidupward to abut the handle 62 of the outer member 50. When the traycarrier 30 is moved to the support position, the support members 110move into alignment with the apertures 76. The support members 110 thusmove to the extended position so that the support members 110 protrudeoutward through the apertures 76 in the legs 60 of the outer member 50.When the tray carrier 30 is in the support position, the support edges112 of the support members 110 are aligned within a common plane so asto collectively define a support plane for supporting the stack 32 ofTSOP trays 34, as described in more detail below.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the handle sections 58 and 80 of the outermember 50 and the inner member 52, respectively. A plurality of biasingmembers 126 are positioned between the handle 84 of the inner member 52and the handle 62 of the outer member 50. The biasing members 126desirably bias the handle 84 of the inner member 52 away from the handle58 of the outer member 50 so that the tray carrier 30 is normally urgedinto the default or non-support position shown in FIG. 6A when thebiasing members 126 are unopposed. The biasing members 126 may comprisesprings or any other of a wide variety of devices that are configured toprovide a biasing force. The tray carrier 30 is moved to the supportposition by exerting a force on the handle 84 of the inner member 52 tooppose or overcome the force exerted by the biasing members 126.

FIGS. 8A-8C are cross-sectional views of the leg 82a of the inner member52 positioned within the leg 60a of the outer member 50. FIGS. 8A-8Csuccessively illustrate the change in relationship between the leg 82aand the leg 60a as the support member 110 is moved from the lockedposition to the unlocked position. This occurs as the leg 82a of theinner member 52 slides within the leg 60a of the outer member 50, or asthe tray carrier 30 moves from the non-support position to the supportposition. FIG. 8A shows the relative positions of the legs 82a and 60awhen the tray carrier is in the non-support position (FIG. 6A). In thatconfiguration, the support members 110 are restrained in the lockedposition by the walls 111 of the leg 60a of the outer member 50. Thatis, the support members 110 abut against the walls 111 of the leg 60a ofthe outer member 50 so that the walls 111 prevent the support members110 from moving to the extended position.

FIG. 8B illustrates the support members 110 of the leg 82a in anintermediate position between the retracted position and the extendedposition. As the leg 82a of the inner member 52 slides upward within theleg 60a of the outer member 50, the support members 110 gradually moveinto alignment or communication with the apertures 76a and 76b in theleg 60a of the outer member 50. As the support members 110 align withthe respective apertures 76, the elastic band 120 causes the supportmembers 110 to gradually move outward to the extended position throughthe apertures 76a and 76b in the leg 60a of the outer member 50.

FIG. 8C shows the relative orientation of the legs 60a and 82a when thetray carrier 30 is in the support position. The support members 110 arefully aligned with the apertures 76a and 76b so that the walls 111 ofthe leg 60a of the outer member 50 no longer restrain the supportmembers 110 in the retracted position. With the walls of the leg 60a nolonger restraining the support members 110, they are free to move to theextended position through the apertures 76a and 76b. The elastic band120 thus causes the support members 110 to automatically spring to theunlocked position when the tray carrier 30 is moved to the supportposition. Thus, a user may move the support members 110 to the unlockedposition by squeezing the handle 84 of the inner member 52 towards thehandle 62 of the outer member 50 so that the support members 110 alignwith the apertures 76a and 76b in the respective leg 60 of the outermember 50.

In operation, the tray carrier 30 is used to support a plurality oftrays 34 arranged in a stack 32. In one embodiment, a user firstpositions the tray carrier 30 above the stack 32 of trays 34, as shownin FIG. 1. The tray carrier 30 is normally in the non-support position(FIG. 6A) prior to the legs 44 being inserted into the trays 34. Thebiasing members 126 (FIG. 7) between the handle 84 of the inner member52 and the handle 62 of the outer member 50 urge the tray carrier 30 tonormally remain in the non-support position.

The user then inserts the legs 44 of the tray carrier 30 into thecorresponding holes 38 in the trays 34 until the bottom 44 of the legsprotrude through the lowermost tray 34 in the stack 32. The user maythen move the tray carrier 30 into the support position wherein thesupport members 110 are moved into the unlocked position. As mentioned,the user moves the tray carrier 30 into the support position bysqueezing the handle 84 of the inner member 52 towards the handle 62 ofthe outer member 50. This causes the support members 110 to move to theunlocked position wherein the support members 110 protrude through theapertures 76 in the legs 60 of the outer member 50. When protruding assuch, the support members 110 define a support plane upon which thestack 32 of trays 34 may be rested.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the stack 32 of trays 34 with the legs 44 ofthe tray carrier 30 protruding through the lowermost tray 34a. The traycarrier 30 is shown in the support position wherein the support members110 protrude outward through the legs 60 of the outer member 50. In thisposition, the support edges 112 of the support members 110 collectivelyprovide a support surface for the bottom most tray 34a. Thus, the bottommost tray 34a in the stack 32 rests on the support edges 112 of thesupport members 110. The user may then lift the tray carrier 30 with thestack 32 of trays 34 supported by the support edges 112 of the supportmembers 110. Typically, the user continues to squeeze the handle 84 ofthe inner member against the handle 62 of the outer member to keep thetray carrier 30 in the support position so that the support members 110continue to collectively provide support to the stack 32 of trays 34.The pressure of the trays 34 on the support edges 112 also holds thesupport members 110 in the support position. Alternatively, the handles62 or 84 could be provided with retaining devices, such as hooks, thatmay be used to retain the handles 62 and 84 against one another.

With the tray carrier 30 in the support position, the user may carry thestack 32 of trays 34 to any desired location. When the user reaches thedesired location, he or she releases the grip on the handles 84 and 62of the inner member 52 and outer member 50, respectively. Consequently,the biasing member 126 causes the tray carrier 30 to return to thenon-support position so that the support members 110 are locked withinthe legs 60 of the outer member 50, as described above with respect toFIG. 8A. The user may then slide the legs 44 of the tray carrier 30 outof the holes 38 of the stack 32 of trays 34.

The tray carrier 30 thus provides a convenient and easy way for a userto carry a stack 32 of TSOP trays 34. The user may easily insert thelegs 44 of the tray carrier 30 into the holes 38 in the trays 34 andthen carry the trays 34 to any desired location. The tray carrier 30removes the difficulty usually associated with moving a tall stack 32 oftrays 34.

Hence, although the foregoing description of the invention has shown,described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention,it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form of the detail of the apparatus and method as illustrated aswell as the uses thereof, may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, thescope of the invention should not be limited to the foregoingdiscussion, but should be defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for supporting and transporting at leastone object which has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough,comprising:a first handle; a second handle positioned in proximity tothe first handle; a plurality of outer legs connected to the firsthandle, at least a portion of the outer legs configured to be insertedinto at least one of the plurality of apertures and at least one of theouter legs to be inserted having an aperture in a lower portion thereof;a plurality of inner legs connected to the second handle, each of saidinner legs extending within an outer leg; and a plurality of supportmembers attached to a lower portion of at least some of the plurality ofinner legs, each of the support members having a support edge, wherein,in response to movement of the second handle in a first directionrelative to the first handle, the support members are movable to anextended position wherein the support members extend outward from theapertures in the at least one outer legs and wherein the support edgescollectively define a surface supporting the at least one object, andwherein, in response to movement of the second handle in a seconddirection relative to the first handle, the support members are movableto a retracted position wherein the support members are retained withina portion of the outer legs.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thenumber of legs corresponds to the number of apertures in the at leastone object.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the support members arebiased to move to the extended position.
 4. The device of claim 3,additionally comprising an actuator configured to move the supportmembers between the extended position and the retracted position.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the support members each comprise a flat,triangular latch.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the support membersare pivotably connected to the lower ends of the inner legs.
 7. A deviceof claim 1, wherein the second handle is biased with respect to thefirst handle so as to urge the support members into the retractedposition.
 8. A device for carrying and transporting at least one objectwhich has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, comprising:anouter housing having a handle section and a plurality of legs connectedthereto, each of the plurality of legs including an aperture extendingthrough a portion thereof; an inner frame coupled to the outer housing,the inner frame having a handle section positioned adjacent the handlesection of the outer housing and a plurality of legs slidably positionedwithin the plurality of legs of the outer housing; and a plurality ofsupport members attached to a portion of the plurality of legs of theinner frame, each of the plurality of support members including asupport edge, the plurality of support members being movable to anextended position wherein the support members extend outward through theapertures in the legs of the outer housing so that the support edges ofthe support members cooperate to support the at least one object andwherein the support members move to the extended position when thehandle section of the inner frame is moved toward the handle section ofthe outer housing.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the support membersare movable to a retracted position in which the support members areentirely positioned within the legs of the outer housing.
 10. The deviceof claim 8, wherein the support members are biased to move to theextended position.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein an elastic bandis coupled to the support members so as to urge the support members tomove toward the extended position.
 12. The device of claim 11, whereinthe number of legs of the outer housing and of the inner frames is equalto the number of apertures in the at least one object.
 13. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the legs are sized to fit within the apertures in theat least one object.
 14. The device of claim 8, wherein the supportmembers are pivotably connected to the bottom ends of the legs of theinner frame.
 15. The device of claim 8, wherein the support members eachcomprise a flat, triangular latch.
 16. A device for carrying at leastone object which has at least one aperture extending therethrough,comprising:a first handle; at least one outer leg connected to the firsthandle and having at least one aperture in a portion thereof; a secondhandle; at least one inner leg connected to the second handle andextending within the at least one outer leg; and a first support memberconnected to the at least one inner leg and retained in a retractedconfiguration within the at least one outer leg, the first supportmember having a support edge sized to support at least a portion of theat least one object.
 17. The device of claim 16, additionally comprisinga second support member connected to the at least one inner leg, thesecond support member having a support edge aligned in a common planewith the support edge of the first support member.
 18. The device ofclaim 16, wherein the at least one outer leg of the carrying device issized to fit within the at least one aperture in the at least oneobject.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one outer legof the carrying device has a height that is greater than the height ofthe at least one object.
 20. The device of claim 16, wherein the atleast one aperture extending through the at least one object comprises aplurality of apertures and wherein the at least one outer leg of thecarrying device comprises a plurality of legs.
 21. The device of claim20, wherein the number of legs is equal to the number of apertures. 22.The device of claim 16, wherein the support member is movably connectedto a portion of the at least one inner leg of the carrying device so asto be movable to an extended configuration such that the support memberextends through the at least one aperture in the at least one outer leg.23. A device for carrying at least one object having a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough, comprising:a handle; a plurality ofhollow legs connected to the handle, the plurality of legs each having aheight greater than the height of the at least one object; a pluralityof support members positioned within the plurality of hollow legs in aretracted configuration and movable with respect to the hollow legs intoan extended configuration wherein at least a portion of the supportmembers extend at least partially outwardly from the hollow legs andcollectively define a support surface for supporting the at least oneobject thereon; means for biasing the support members into the extendedposition; and means for moving the support members relative to thehollow legs between the extended and retracted positions.
 24. The deviceof claim 23 wherein the number of legs corresponds to the number ofapertures in the at least one object.
 25. The device of claim 23,wherein the plurality legs are configured to be inserted into theplurality of apertures in the at least one object.
 26. A device forsupporting and transporting at least one object which has a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough, comprising:a handle; a plurality ofouter legs connected to the handle and each having at least one aperturein a portion thereof, at least a portion of the outer legs configured tobe inserted into at least one of the plurality of apertures in the atleast one object; a plurality of inner legs extending within theplurality of outer legs so as to be movable between a first and a secondposition with respect to the outer legs; and means connected to at leastone of the plurality of inner legs for supporting the at least oneobject when the legs are inserted into the apertures, wherein the meansfor supporting is in a retracted configuration and contained within atleast one of the outer legs when the inner legs are in the firstposition, and wherein the means for supporting is in an extendedconfiguration so as to at least partially extend through the at leastone aperture in the at least one outer leg when the inner legs are inthe second position.
 27. The device of claim 26, wherein the number oflegs corresponds to the number of apertures in the at least one object.28. The device of claim 26, wherein the means for supporting the atleast one object comprises a plurality of support members sized to fitwithin the apertures in the at least one object, each of the supportmembers having a support edge, wherein the support members are movableto an extended position wherein the support edges collectively define asurface supporting the at least one object.
 29. The device of claim 28,wherein the at least one aperture in the outer legs is located at alower end of the outer legs.
 30. The device of claim 29, wherein thesupport members are aligned with and protrude through the apertures inthe outer leg when the support members are in the extended position. 31.The device of claim 28, wherein the support members are movable to aretracted position wherein the support members are fully housed withinthe plurality of outer legs.
 32. The device of claim 31, wherein thesupport members are biased to move to the extended position.
 33. Thedevice of claim 28, wherein the support members each comprise a flat,triangular latch.
 34. The device of claim 28, wherein the supportmembers are pivotably connected to lower ends of the inner legs.